Editing New Jersey Route 23

{{Short description|State highway in northern New Jersey, US}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox road
|state = NJ
|type = NJ
|route = 23
|length_mi = 52.63
|length_ref = <ref name=SLD>{{cite web |url = http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/refdata/sldiag/pdf/00000023__-.pdf |title = New Jersey Route 23 straight line diagram |publisher = [[New Jersey Department of Transportation]] |access-date = March 17, 2020 }}</ref>
|map={{maplink-road}}
|map_custom=yes
|direction_a = South
|terminus_a = {{jct|state=NJ|CR|506|CR|577}} in [[Verona, New Jersey|Verona]]
|junction =
*{{jct|state=NJ|I|80|US|46}} in [[Wayne, New Jersey|Wayne]]
*{{jct|state=NJ|US|202}} in Wayne
*{{jct|state=NJ|I|287}} in [[Riverdale, New Jersey|Riverdale]]
*{{jct|state=NJ|NJ|94}} in [[Hamburg, New Jersey|Hamburg]]
*{{jct|state=NJ|NJ|284}} in [[Sussex, New Jersey|Sussex]]
|direction_b = North
|terminus_b = {{jct|state=NY|I|84|US|6}} at the [[New York (state)|New York]] state line
|established = 1927
|counties = [[Essex County, New Jersey|Essex]], [[Passaic County, New Jersey|Passaic]], [[Morris County, New Jersey|Morris]], [[Sussex County, New Jersey|Sussex]]
|previous_type = NJ-old
|previous_route = 22
|next_type = NJ
|next_route = 24
}}
'''Route 23''' is a [[List of state highways in New Jersey|state highway]] in the northern part of [[New Jersey]], United States. The route runs {{convert|52.63|mi|km}} from Bloomfield Avenue ([[County Route 506 (New Jersey)|County Route&nbsp;506]], CR&nbsp;506) and Prospect Avenue ([[County Route 577 (New Jersey)|CR&nbsp;577]]) in [[Verona, New Jersey|Verona]], [[Essex County, New Jersey|Essex County]], northwest to the border with [[New York (state)|New York]] at [[Montague Township, New Jersey|Montague Township]] in [[Sussex County, New Jersey|Sussex County]], where the road continues to [[Port Jervis, New York]], as CR&nbsp;15. Route&nbsp;23 heads through Essex and [[Passaic County, New Jersey|Passaic]] counties as a two- to four-lane surface road and becomes a six-lane [[Controlled-access highway|freeway]] at a complex interchange with [[U.S. Route&nbsp;46]] (US&nbsp;46) and [[Interstate 80 in New Jersey|Interstate&nbsp;80]] (I-80) in [[Wayne, New Jersey|Wayne]]. The freeway carries Route&nbsp;23 north to [[Concurrency (road)|run concurrently]] with [[U.S. Route 202 in New Jersey|US&nbsp;202]]. Past the freeway portion, the route heads northwest along the border of [[Morris County, New Jersey|Morris]] and Passaic counties as a four- to six-lane [[arterial road]] with a wide median at places, winding through mountainous areas and crossing the interchange with [[Interstate 287|I-287]] in [[Riverdale, New Jersey|Riverdale]]. The route continues northwest through Sussex County as a mostly two-lane surface road that passes through farmland and woodland as well as the communities of [[Franklin, New Jersey|Franklin]], [[Hamburg, New Jersey|Hamburg]], and [[Sussex, New Jersey|Sussex]] before reaching the New York state line, just south of an interchange with [[Interstate 84 in New York|I-84]] and [[U.S. Route 6 in New York|US&nbsp;6]] in Port Jervis, in Montague Township near [[High Point State Park]].

Route&nbsp;23 was established in 1927 to run from Verona to the New York state line near Port Jervis, replacing [[Pre-1927 Route 8 (New Jersey)|pre-1927 Route&nbsp;8]] between Verona and Sussex. The route followed two turnpikes that were created in the early 19th century: the [[Newark–Pompton Turnpike]] and the [[Paterson–Hamburg Turnpike]]. In the mid-1950s, there were plans to build an [[Interstate Highway System|Interstate Highway]] along Route&nbsp;23 between I-80 and I-287, but it was never built. In the 1960s, the route was planned to be upgraded to a freeway all the way up to Port Jervis and south to [[Piscataway, New Jersey|Piscataway]], [[Middlesex County, New Jersey|Middlesex County]]; however, both freeway proposals were cancelled in the early 1970s. In the mid-1980s, the portion of Route&nbsp;23 from north of US&nbsp;46 in Wayne to I-287 in Riverdale was improved, with the road upgraded to a six-lane freeway south of the interchange with Alps Road and to a six-lane arterial road north of Alps Road.

==Route description==

===Essex and Passaic counties===
[[File:2018-07-17 13 57 02 View north along New Jersey State Route&nbsp;23 (Pompton Avenue) at Highland Road in Cedar Grove Township, Essex County, New Jersey.jpg|thumb|left|View north along Route&nbsp;23 at Highland Road in Cedar Grove]]
Route&nbsp;23 begins at an intersection with Bloomfield Avenue ([[County Route 506 (New Jersey)|CR&nbsp;506]]) and Prospect Avenue ([[County Route 577 (New Jersey)|CR&nbsp;577]]) in [[Verona, New Jersey|Verona]], heading to the north through residences and some businesses along four-lane, undivided Pompton Avenue.<ref name=SLD/><ref name=gm>{{google maps |url = https://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&saddr=route+23+and+bloomfield+avenue+verona+nj&daddr=41.056573,-74.472198+to:tappen+road+and+greenville+turnpike+port+jervis+ny&hl=en&geocode=&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=10&via=1&sll=40.994411,-74.286804&sspn=0.458143,0.878906&ie=UTF8&ll=41.141433,-74.459839&spn=0.914238,1.757813&t=h&z=9 |title = Overview of New Jersey Route&nbsp;23  |access-date = January 5, 2009 }}</ref> After a short distance, the road forms the border between [[Cedar Grove, New Jersey|Cedar Grove]] to the west and Verona to the east before fully entering Cedar Grove. In Cedar Grove, the route narrows to two lanes at the intersection of West Bradford Avenue/East Bradford Avenue ([[List of county routes in Essex County, New Jersey#640|CR&nbsp;640]]) before widening to four lanes again at the intersection of Grove Avenue ([[List of county routes in Essex County, New Jersey#639|CR&nbsp;639]]). Shortly before leaving Cedar Grove, Route&nbsp;23 crosses the intersection of Lindsley Road ([[List of county routes in Essex County, New Jersey#604|CR&nbsp;604]]), which also heads to the west as [[County Route 527 (New Jersey)|CR&nbsp;527]].<ref name=SLD/>

[[File:2020-09-09 10 42 40 View north along New Jersey State Route 23 just south of the exit for U.S. Route 202 SOUTH and Passaic County Route 511 Alternate (Lincoln Park, Boonton) in Wayne Township, Passaic County, New Jersey.jpg|thumb|right|Route&nbsp;23 freeway northbound in Wayne]]
The road crosses into [[Little Falls, New Jersey|Little Falls]], [[Passaic County, New Jersey|Passaic County]], where it narrows to two lanes and becomes [[Newark-Pompton Turnpike]]. In Little Falls, Route&nbsp;23 heads through the central part of the community before crossing the [[Passaic River]] into [[Wayne, New Jersey|Wayne]] where the road leaves the unnamed highway briefly and widens to a four lane [[Dual carriageway|divided highway]]. Route&nbsp;23 passes two shopping malls, [[Willowbrook Mall (New Jersey)|Willowbrook Mall]] and [[Wayne Towne Center]], and enters the "Spaghetti Bowl" interchange with [[U.S. Route 46|US&nbsp;46]] and [[Interstate 80 in New Jersey|I-80]], becoming a six-lane [[Controlled-access highway|freeway]]. Within this interchange, the route passes under [[NJ Transit]]'s [[Montclair-Boonton Line]].<ref name=SLD/><ref name=gm/><ref name=pvt>{{cite news |last = Boud |first = Tom |title = Spaghetti Bowl Project Complete |work = Passaic Valley Today |date = September 15, 2008 }}</ref>

North of I-80, the road rejoins the route unnamed, and features a [[cloverleaf interchange]] with West Belt Road that provides access to the [[Wayne Route&nbsp;23 Transit Center]] along the Montclair-Boonton Line. Route&nbsp;23 continues north with [[frontage road]]s serving businesses, coming to an interchange with [[U.S. Route 202 in New Jersey|US&nbsp;202]] and [[County Route 511 (New Jersey)#CR&nbsp;511 Alternate|CR&nbsp;511 Alternate]] (CR&nbsp;511 Alt.), forming a [[Concurrency (road)|concurrency]] with US&nbsp;202.<ref name=SLD/><ref name=gm/> The road passes over a [[Norfolk Southern Railway|Norfolk Southern]] railroad line before it has an interchange with Alps Road ([[List of county routes in Passaic County, New Jersey#670|CR&nbsp;670]]) and becomes a six-lane [[arterial road]]. Following this, the roadway passes west of the Mother's Park & Ride, a [[park and ride]] facility serving NJ Transit buses, and reaches an interchange with [[Newark-Pompton Turnpike|CR&nbsp;683]], where the Newark–Pompton Turnpike leaves Route&nbsp;23 and US&nbsp;202, which continue north from this point as a surface road through commercial areas. At a U-turn ramp, the eastbound direction of [[County Route 504 (New Jersey)|CR&nbsp;504]] follows both directions of the road, having to use the ramp in order to continue across the road.<ref name=202SLD>{{cite web |url = http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/refdata/sldiag/00000202__-.pdf |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060318041255/http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/refdata/sldiag/00000202__-.pdf |archive-date = March 18, 2006 |url-status = live |title = Route 202 straight line diagram |publisher = [[New Jersey Department of Transportation]] |access-date = January 5, 2009 }}
</ref> Northbound US&nbsp;202 splits from Route&nbsp;23, where the cut-off intersection with CR&nbsp;504 is located. At this point, the westbound direction of CR&nbsp;504 and the southbound direction of US&nbsp;202 follow southbound Route&nbsp;23 until an intersection.<ref name=SLD/>

===Morris and Passaic counties===
Route&nbsp;23 crosses into [[Pequannock Township, New Jersey|Pequannock]] in [[Morris County, New Jersey|Morris County]] and passes over the [[Pompton River]]. In Pequannock, the road is a six-lane arterial road with at-grade intersections, some controlled by [[jughandle]]s, that heads through a mix of businesses and woodland.<ref name=SLD/><ref name=gm/>  At the north end of Pequannock, the route passes over a [[New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway]] (NYSW) branch line and intersects with [[Newark–Pompton Turnpike|CR&nbsp;660]], where it rejoins Route&nbsp;23. The route intersects with Boulevard (CR&nbsp;511 Alt.) and crosses into [[Riverdale, New Jersey|Riverdale]], and CR&nbsp;511 Alt. follows Route&nbsp;23 until it heads to the north unnamed.<ref name=SLD/> Route&nbsp;23 interchanges with [[Interstate 287|I-287]] and climbs a hill past the interchange, heading to the west. The route runs through [[Kinnelon, New Jersey|Kinnelon]], passing over the NYSW New Jersey Subdivision line, before entering [[Butler, New Jersey|Butler]]. In Butler, Route&nbsp;23 passes through commercial areas, crossing the intersection with Boonton Avenue ([[County Route 511 (New Jersey)|CR&nbsp;511]]) before heading northwest. The road drops to four lanes, still divided by a [[Jersey barrier]].<ref name=SLD/><ref name=gm/> It heads under Maple Lake Road before passing through Kinnelon again. Upon leaving Kinnelon, the route enters [[West Milford, New Jersey|West Milford]] in Passaic County at the crossing of the [[Pequannock River]].<ref name=SLD/> At this point, the route enters a more wooded, mountainous setting, following the Pequannock River and the NYSW line.<ref name=gm/>

[[File:2018-07-24 18 36 05 View south along New Jersey State Route 23 at Reservoir Road in West Milford Township, Passaic County, New Jersey.jpg|left|thumb|Route&nbsp;23 southbound past Reservoir Road in West Milford]]
Route&nbsp;23 splits, with the southbound lanes crossing over the Pequannock River into Kinnelon for a time. The route passes by the Charlotteburg Reservoir, a [[reservoir]] for the [[Newark, New Jersey|Newark]] public water supply, and has a [[rest area]] in the northbound direction.<ref name=SLD/><ref name=gm/> Route&nbsp;23 intersects Union Valley Road ([[County Route 513 (New Jersey)|CR&nbsp;513]]), running concurrently with that route. The southbound lanes cross the Pequannock River into [[Jefferson Township, New Jersey|Jefferson Township]], Morris County, and CR&nbsp;513 splits from Route&nbsp;23 by heading south on Green Pond Road. The southbound lanes cross back into West Milford, where the two separate roads rejoin. The intersection of [[Clinton Road (New Jersey)|Clinton Road]] has the longest stoplight signal cycle in the United States, with drivers waiting up to five minutes and 33 seconds to cross the intersection.<ref>{{Cite news |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2001/06/24/nyregion/on-the-road-the-longest-light.html |title = On the Road: The Longest Light |last = Chesler |first = Caren |date = June 24, 2001 |work = The New York Times |access-date = January 12, 2018 |language = en-US |issn = 0362-4331 }}</ref> Route&nbsp;23 continues northwest through forested areas, crossing over the railroad tracks and passing by the Oak Ridge Reservoir, another reservoir that provides water for Newark.<ref name=gm/> The route crosses the Pequannock River three times, running within Jefferson Township between the first two crossings and past the third crossing.<ref name=SLD/>

===Sussex County===
[[File:2018-07-26 08 33 51 View north along New Jersey State Route&nbsp;23 and Sussex County Route 519 just north of Brink Road in Wantage Township, Sussex County, New Jersey.jpg|right|thumb|Route&nbsp;23 northbound along its concurrency with CR&nbsp;519 in Wantage Township]]
Route&nbsp;23 enters [[Hardyston Township, New Jersey|Hardyston Township]], [[Sussex County, New Jersey|Sussex County]], and comes to an intersection with [[County Route 515 (New Jersey)|CR&nbsp;515]].  Past this intersection, the divided highway ends and Route&nbsp;23 becomes a two-lane, undivided road. The road heads to the northwest through wooded mountains and runs through the community of [[Stockholm, New Jersey|Stockholm]], where it passes east of a park and ride lot located at a church. The route curves west onto a winding road, passing over the New York, Susquehanna, and Western Railway]] line. The roadway gains a wide painted median, crossing into [[Franklin, New Jersey|Franklin]] and meeting the intersection with Munsonhurst Road ([[County Route 517 (New Jersey)|CR&nbsp;517]]).<ref name=SLD/><ref name=gm/> CR&nbsp;517 heads north along with Route&nbsp;23, with the wide median ending, and the road continues through residential and commercial areas of Franklin with a brief wide painted median near the intersection of Franklin Avenue ([[List of county routes in Sussex County, New Jersey#631|CR&nbsp;631]]).<ref name=SLD/> The road crosses a stream, Mill Brook, into [[Hamburg, New Jersey|Hamburg]], where CR&nbsp;517 splits from Route&nbsp;23 by heading east on Quarry Road. Route&nbsp;23 continues north through wooded residential areas of Hamburg, passing under the NYSW line and crossing the intersection of [[New Jersey Route 94|Route 94]]. The route crosses back into Hardyston Township, heading north through a mix of farms and forests.<ref name=SLD/><ref name=gm/>

Route&nbsp;23 crosses the [[Wallkill River]] into [[Wantage Township, New Jersey|Wantage Township]] and continues north to an intersection with Glenwood Road ([[County Route 565 (New Jersey)|CR&nbsp;565]]), running concurrently with that route and gaining a wide painted median past that intersection which eventually turns into a center left-turn lane. The road passes some businesses and becomes a two-lane divided highway before CR&nbsp;565 departs from Route&nbsp;23 by heading west on Lewisburg Road.<ref name=SLD/><ref name=gm/> Route&nbsp;23 crosses into [[Sussex, New Jersey|Sussex]], where the route becomes a [[one-way pair]] along Hamburg Avenue northbound and Walling Avenue southbound, passing by residences. The route intersects with East Main Street ([[New Jersey Route 284|Route&nbsp;284]]) before the northbound directions turns left onto Loomis Avenue, where [[List of county routes in Sussex County, New Jersey#643|CR&nbsp;643]] continues north on Main Street. Immediately after turning onto Loomis Avenue, [[List of county routes in Sussex County, New Jersey#639|CR&nbsp;639]] continues west on Loomis Avenue and Route&nbsp;23 becomes two-way again, heading north on two-lane undivided Mill Street. The route becomes Clove Avenue before crossing back into Wantage Township.<ref name=SLD/><ref name=gm/>

[[File:US Route 6 - New York at Orange County Route 15.jpg|left|thumb|Mismarked cutout signage for CR&nbsp;15 for Route&nbsp;23 from US&nbsp;6]]
In Wantage Township, Route&nbsp;23 continues north through farmland and woodland, eventually turning west. It comes to an intersection with Colesville–Lusscroft Road ([[County Route 519 (New Jersey)|CR&nbsp;519]]) and turns north, running concurrently with that route through forested areas until CR&nbsp;519 heads north on Greenville Road.<ref name=SLD/><ref name=gm/> Route&nbsp;23 continues northwest and heads across the [[Kittatinny Mountain]], crossing the [[Appalachian Trail]] and entering [[Montague Township, New Jersey|Montague Township]], Here, the road heads into heavily forested [[High Point State Park]], which is home to the highest elevation in New Jersey.<ref name=gm/> The route descends through Montague Township along a winding road, passing by some businesses immediately before heading to the [[New York (state)|New York]] state line.<ref name=SLD/><ref name=gm/> Route&nbsp;23 officially ends at the state line and the road continues into [[Orange County, New York]], as Tappen Road ([[New Jersey Route 23#Sussex County|CR&nbsp;15]]) for less than {{convert|1/2|mi|km}}. A few feet after the state line, CR&nbsp;15 comes to an interchange with [[Interstate 84 in New York|I-84]] before it ends at an intersection with [[U.S. Route 6 in New York|US&nbsp;6]] in [[Port Jervis, New York|Port Jervis]].<ref name=gm/> Although I-84 does not enter New Jersey, missing it by only a few feet, the signs on it for the interchange with CR&nbsp;15 refer to Route&nbsp;23, even though some signs erroneously refer to it as NY&nbsp;23.<ref>{{google maps |SV = yes |date = July 2011 |url = https://www.google.com/maps?ll=41.35452,-74.682666&spn=0.004325,0.010568&t=h&z=17&layer=c&cbll=41.354491,-74.684599&panoid=QPMFEVhz0enleb5u-vfW2A&cbp=12,140.53,,0,3.29 |title =  I-84, Port Jervis, New York |access-date = September 10, 2013 }}</ref>

==History==
[[Image:New York, New York 1955 Yellow Book.jpg|thumb|right|1955 [[Yellow Book (Interstate system)|Yellow Book]] map of [[New York City]], showing a planned Interstate Highway along part of the Route&nbsp;23 corridor]]
Route&nbsp;23 follows the course of the Pompton Trail, and old Lenape trail connecting what is now Glen Ridge, New Jersey to the Minisink Village in what is now Montague.<ref>{{cite book |title = Open Space and Recreation Plan for the County of Sussex |author1 = Morris Land Conservancy |author2 = Sussex County Open Space Committee |year = 2003 |url = https://www.sussex.nj.us/documents/planning/open%20space/openspaceplan-complete.pdf |page = 38 |publisher = County of Sussex |quote = Another trail, known as the Pompton Trail, had one end at Minisink Island and the other at Hackensack. The Pompton Trail traversed the rugged northern Highlands by following the natural corridor carved out by the Pequannock River. This trail is now followed generally by Route 23. }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last = Snyder |first = John |orig-date = 1969 |date = 2004 |title = The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries 1606-1968 |url = https://www.state.nj.us/dep/njgs/enviroed/oldpubs/bulletin67.pdf |publisher = New Jersey Geological Survey |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120605161833/http://www.state.nj.us/dep/njgs/enviroed/oldpubs/bulletin67.pdf |archive-date = June 5, 2012 |url-status = live }}</ref>{{Failed verification|date=August 2023}} In the 19th century, two turnpikes were incorporated that would later become parts of Route&nbsp;23: the [[Newark–Pompton Turnpike]], which was built between 1806 and 1811; and the '''Paterson–Hamburg Turnpike''', which was incorporated in 1806, and was built from Paterson to a landing in Montague Township, where the [[U.S. Route 6 in Pennsylvania|Owego and Milford Turnpike]] continued its route west.<ref name=njprs>{{Cite web |title = History of Pequannock NJ |publisher = NJProperty Realty Services |access-date = January 6, 2009 |url = http://www.njproperty.net/community/pequannock.htm |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071023041054/http://njproperty.net/community/pequannock.htm |archive-date = October 23, 2007 }}</ref><ref name=njdot>{{cite web |url = http://www.nj.gov/transportation/works/environment/pdf/Historic_BR_Passaic.pdf |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110616040939/http://www.nj.gov/transportation/works/environment/pdf/Historic_BR_Passaic.pdf |archive-date = June 16, 2011 |url-status = live |title = New Jersey Department of Transportation-New Jersey Historic Bridge Data-Bureau of Environmental Services |publisher = [[New Jersey Department of Transportation]] |access-date = January 6, 2009 }}</ref> Parts of the Paterson–Hamburg Turnpike are now [[List of county routes in Sussex County, New Jersey#650|CR&nbsp;650]] in Sussex County, the Hamburg Turnpike from Butler to Wayne (signed CR&nbsp;694, CR&nbsp;689, and [[County Route 504 (New Jersey)|CR&nbsp;504]]), Central Avenue through [[Haledon, New Jersey|Haledon]], and into Paterson as Broadway. Due to realignments, the current alignment of Route&nbsp;23 bypasses the intersection of these two turnpikes.<ref name=gm/> North of Coleville, the road was maintained by the '''Coleville and Carpenter's Point Turnpike''', chartered in 1850.<ref>{{Cite web |title = Early turnpikes helped all travelers |url = https://www.njherald.com/lifestyle/20160612/early-turnpikes-helped-all-travelers |access-date = June 12, 2020 |website = New Jersey Herald |language = en }}</ref>

In the [[Pre-1927 New Jersey State Highways|original system]] of New Jersey highways, the Newark–Pompton Turnpike and Paterson–Hamburg Turnpike were combined to form [[Pre-1927 Route 8 (New Jersey)|pre-1927 Route&nbsp;8]], which ran from [[Montclair, New Jersey|Montclair]] to the New York state line near [[Unionville, Orange County, New York|Unionville, New York]], running along the alignment of current Route&nbsp;23 north to Sussex and following present-day Route&nbsp;284 north of Sussex.<ref>{{cite book |title = Annual Report |publisher = New Jersey State Highway Department |year = 1917 }}</ref> In the [[1927 New Jersey State Highway renumbering]], Route&nbsp;23 was designated to run from [[New Jersey Route 9|Route&nbsp;9]] (now CR&nbsp;506) in Verona north to the New York state line near Port Jervis, replacing pre-1927 Route&nbsp;8 from Verona to Sussex.<ref name="nj1927">State of New Jersey, Laws of 1927, Chapter 319.</ref><ref name="Map">{{cite map |url = http://www.jimmyandsharonwilliams.com/njroads/1920s/images/1927_routes.gif |title = 1927 New Jersey Road Map |publisher = State of New Jersey |access-date = October 8, 2008 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071031111034/http://www.jimmyandsharonwilliams.com/njroads/1920s/images/1927_routes.gif |archive-date = October 31, 2007 }}</ref> In the 1930s, communities in Passaic and Morris counties were bypassed by four-lane roads, with Bloomingdale and Butler bypassed in 1933,<ref>{{Cite book |author1 = Passaic County Planning Association |url = http://hdl.handle.net/2027/uc1.b4592740 |title = Passaic County and the Regional Plan: Just What This Great Enterprise Means to the County and Particularly to the Community in Which You Live |publisher = Passaic County Planning Association |year = 1934 |location = New York |page = 14 |hdl = 2027/uc1.b4592740 }}</ref> and Pequannock by 1936.<ref>{{Cite map |first = George |last = Hewitt |title = Map of Passaic County, N.J., showing Highway System |date = January 1936 }}</ref>

[[File:2021-09-20 16 58 01 View north along New Jersey State Route 23 from the overpass for West Belt Highway in Wayne Township, Passaic County, New Jersey.jpg|thumb|left|Route&nbsp;23 northbound at West Belt Road in Wayne]]
In the [[General Location of National System of Interstate Highways|1955 plan for the Interstate Highway System]], an [[Interstate Highway System|Interstate Highway]] was planned along the Route&nbsp;23 corridor between I-80 in Wayne and I-287 in [[Riverdale, New Jersey|Riverdale]], also connecting to a proposed Interstate along the [[New Jersey Route 3|Route&nbsp;3]] corridor. However, this proposed Interstate was never built.<ref name="yellowbook">{{cite map |author = [[Bureau of Public Roads]] |date = September 1955 |map = New York and environs |title = General Location of National System of Interstate Highways Including All Additional Routes at Urban Areas Designated in September 1955 |scale = Scale not given |location = Washington, DC |publisher = Government Printing Office |page = 59 |oclc = 4165975 |map-url = https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:New_York,_New_York_1955_Yellow_Book.jpg |access-date = December 22, 2009 |via = Wikimedia Commons }}</ref> Plans were made in the early 1960s for a Route&nbsp;23 freeway running from I-80 north to I-84 in Port Jervis, New York, providing improved freeway access to northwestern New Jersey.<ref name=tstc>{{cite book |title = Regional Highways: Status Report |publisher = Tri-State Transportation Commission |year = 1962 }}</ref> This proposed freeway, which was to cost $120 million, was cancelled in the early 1970s due to financial troubles and feared environmental issues.<ref name="1972oppose">{{cite news |title = Interstate 80-84 Links Opposed |date = November 27, 1972 |work = The New York Times |issn = 0362-4331 }}{{page needed|date=August 2024}}</ref> A 1966 proposal called for Route&nbsp;23 to be extended south as a freeway to I-287 in [[Piscataway, New Jersey|Piscataway]] in [[Middlesex County, New Jersey|Middlesex County]], running parallel to the [[Garden State Parkway]]. This $300 million freeway was added to planning maps in 1969 as '''Route&nbsp;807''' but was also cancelled in the early 1970s.<ref name="nytregistrations">{{cite news |last = Burks |first = Edward C. |title = Highway Programs Showing Progress |date = November 4, 1973 |work = The New York Times |issn = 0362-4331 }}{{page needed|date=August 2024}}</ref>

In the late 1970s, the [[New Jersey Department of Transportation]] (NJDOT) made plans to rebuild the section of Route&nbsp;23, at the time a four-lane undivided road, between I-80 and I-287 to a six-lane freeway between I-80 and Alps Road and a six-lane surface road north of Alps Road.<ref>{{cite news |last = Narvaez |first = Alfonso A. |title = Transport Bond Issue At Stake; Bonds for Transit |date = September 9, 1979 |work = The New York Times |issn = 0362-4331 }}{{page needed|date=August 2024}}</ref> Construction on these improvements began in 1983 and were completed in 1986. With these improvements to the route, many [[traffic circle]]s were removed, including one at US&nbsp;46 that was replaced with a complex interchange. In 2008, the Spaghetti Bowl interchange with I-80 and US&nbsp;46 was improved, costing $70 million.<ref name=pvt/>

In 2010, NJDOT began plans to move Route&nbsp;23 to a new alignment through Sussex. With this project, the bridge over the Papakating Creek was replaced and a new road for the southbound lanes was built as an extension of Walling Avenue, while the original Route&nbsp;23 became northbound only.<ref name=njdot2>{{cite web |url = http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/works/studies/rte23sussex/ |title = Route 23 Sussex Borough Realignment - Overview |publisher = [[New Jersey Department of Transportation]] |access-date = August 18, 2010 }}</ref><ref name=njdot3>{{cite web |url = http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/works/studies/rte23sussex/pdf/proj_plan.pdf |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110929123045/http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/works/studies/rte23sussex/pdf/proj_plan.pdf |archive-date = September 29, 2011 |url-status = live |title = Route 23 Sussex Borough Realignment Project Plan |publisher = [[New Jersey Department of Transportation]] |access-date = August 18, 2010 }}</ref> The project lasted from July 2012 to November 2014.<ref name=njdot4>{{cite web |url = http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/works/studies/rte23sussex/schedule.shtm |title = Route 23 Sussex Borough Realignment - Schedule |publisher = [[New Jersey Department of Transportation]] |access-date = August 18, 2010 }}</ref>

==Major intersections==
{{Jcttop|length_ref=<ref name=SLD/>}}
{{NJint
|county=Essex
|cspan=2
|mile=0.00
|road={{jct|state=NJ|CR|506|name1=Bloomfield Avenue|city1=Montclair|city2=Livingston|CR|577|dir2=south|name2=Prospect Avenue}}
|location=Verona
|type=concur
|notes=Southern terminus; northern terminus of CR 577
}}
{{NJint
|mile=3.60
|road={{jct|state=NJ|CR|527|dir1=south|name1=Lindsley Road}}
|location=Cedar Grove
|notes=Northern terminus of CR&nbsp;527
}}
{{NJint
|county=Passaic
|cspan=9
|location=Wayne
|lspan=9
|mile=5.25
|mspan=2
|place=Southern end of freeway section
}}
{{NJint
|mile=none
|road={{jct|state=NJ|US|46|location1=[[Fairfield Township, Essex County, New Jersey|Fairfield]]}}
}}
{{NJint
|mile=5.48
|type=incomplete
|road={{jct|state=NJ|I|80|location1=[[New York City|New York]]|location2=[[Delaware Water Gap]]}}
|notes=No southbound access to I-80 west; exit&nbsp;53 on I-80
}}
{{NJint
|mile=6.01
|road={{jct|state=NJ|road|West Belt / Service Road|location1=Local Traffic}}
|notes=
}}
{{NJint
|mile=6.82
|road={{jct|state=NJ|US|202|dir1=south|CR-Alt|511|city1=Lincoln Park|city2=Boonton|road|Service Road}}
|type=concur
|notes=Southern end of US&nbsp;202 concurrency
}}
{{NJint
|mile=7.21
|mspan=2
|road={{jctname|state=NJ|CR|670|dir1=north|county1=Passaic|name1=Alps Road|noshield1=yes}}
}}
{{NJint
|mile=none
|place=Northern end of freeway section
}}
{{NJint
|mile=7.68
|road={{jctname|state=NJ|CR|683|dir1=north|county1=Passaic|noshield1=yes|name1=[[Newark-Pompton Turnpike]]|city1=Pequannock}}
|notes=Interchange
}}
{{NJint
|mile=8.94
|road={{jct|state=NJ|US|202|dir1=north|name2=Black Oak Ridge Road|CR|504}}
|type=concur
|notes=Northern end of US&nbsp;202 concurrency
}}
{{NJint
|mile=11.90
|county=Morris
|cspan=5
|location=Pequannock Township
|lspan=2
|road={{jctname|state=NJ|CR|683|county1=Passaic|noshield1=yes|name1=[[Newark-Pompton Turnpike]]|city1=Pequannock}}
}}
{{NJint
|mile=12.27
|road={{jct|state=NJ|CR-Alt|511|dir1=south|name1=Boulevard|city1=Pompton Plains|city2=Lincoln Park}}
|type=concur
|notes=Southern end of CR&nbsp;511 Alt. concurrency
}}
{{NJint
|mile=12.48
|type=concur
|road={{jct|state=NJ|CR-Alt|511|dir1=north|name1=[[Newark–Pompton Turnpike]]}}<br>Windbeam Road
|location=Riverdale
|lspan=2
|notes=Northern end of CR 511 Alt. concurrency
}}
{{NJint
|mile=12.86
|road={{jct|state=NJ|I|287|to2=to|CR|694|county2=Morris|city1=Mahwah|city2=Morristown}}
|notes=Exit&nbsp;52 on I-287
}}
{{NJint
|mile=14.98
|road={{jct|state=NJ|CR|511|name1=Boonton Avenue|city1=Kinnelon|city2=Boonton|city3=Butler}}
|location=Butler
}}
{{NJint
|mile=21.84
|county=Passaic
|road={{jct|state=NJ|CR|513|dir1=north|name1=Union Valley Road|city1=West Milford|location2=[[Greenwood Lake, New York|Greenwood Lake]]}}
|location=West Milford
|type=concur
|notes=Southern end of CR&nbsp;513 concurrency
}}
{{NJint
|mile=22.09
|county=Morris
|road={{jct|state=NJ|CR|513|dir1=south|name1=Green Pond Road|city1=Green Pond}}
|location=Jefferson Township
|type=concur
|notes=North end of CR&nbsp;513 overall
}}
{{NJint
|mile=26.87
|county=Sussex
|cspan=10
|location=Hardyston Township
|road={{jct|state=NJ|CR|515|dir1=north|city1=Highland Lakes|location2=[[Vernon Township, New Jersey|Vernon]]}}
|notes=Southern terminus of CR&nbsp;515
}}
{{NJint
|mile=31.64
|road={{jct|state=NJ|CR|517|dir1=south|name1=Munsonhurst Road|city1=Ogdensburg|city2=Sparta}}
|location=Franklin
|type=concur
|notes=Southern end of CR&nbsp;517 concurrency
}}
{{NJint
|mile=34.35
|road={{jct|state=NJ|CR|517|dir1=north|name1=Quarry Road}}
|location=Hamburg
|lspan=2
|type=concur
|notes=Northern end of CR&nbsp;517 concurrency
}}
{{NJint
|mile=35.45
|road={{jct|state=NJ|NJ|94|city1=Newton|city2=McAfee|location3=Great Gorge|location4=[[Vernon Township, New Jersey|Vernon]]}}
}}
{{NJint
|type=concur
|mile=38.52
|road={{jct|state=NJ|CR|565|dir1=north|name1=Glenwood Road|location1=[[Vernon Township, New Jersey|Vernon]]}}<br>Clark Road
|location=Wantage Township
|lspan=2
|notes=Southern end of CR&nbsp;565 concurrency
}}
{{NJint
|mile=39.18
|road={{jct|state=NJ|CR|565|dir1=south|name1=Lewisburg Road|location1=[[Frankford Township, New Jersey|Frankford]]}}
|type=concur
|notes=Northern end of CR&nbsp;565 concurrency
}}
{{NJint
|mile=39.95
|road={{jct|state=NJ|NJ|284|dir1=north|name1=East Main Street|location1=[[Unionville, Orange County, New York|Unionville]]|location2=[[Middletown, New York|Middletown]]}}
|location=Sussex
|notes=Southern terminus of Route&nbsp;284
}}
{{NJint
|type=concur
|mile=45.04
|road={{jct|state=NJ|CR|519|dir1=south|name1=Colesville–Lusscroft Road|location1=[[Frankford Township, New Jersey|Frankford]]|city2=Beemerville}}
|location=Wantage Township
|lspan=2
|notes=Southern end of CR&nbsp;519 concurrency
}}
{{NJint
|mile=47.26
|road={{jct|state=NJ|CR|519|dir1=north|name1=Greenville Road|location1=[[Greenville, Orange County, New York|Greenville]]}}
|type=concur
|notes=Northern end of CR&nbsp;519 concurrency
}}
{{NJint
|mile=52.63
|road={{jct|state=NY|I|84|US|6|city1=Port Jervis|city2=Middletown|location3=[[Scranton, Pennsylvania|Scranton]]}}
|location=Montague Township
|notes=Northern terminus; [[New York (state)|New York]] state line; access via CR&nbsp;15; exit&nbsp;1 on I-84
}}
{{jctbtm|keys=concur}}

==See also==
{{Portal|U.S. Roads|New Jersey}}
*[[List of county routes in Orange County, New York]]
{{-}}

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{commonscat|New Jersey Route 23}}
{{AttachedKML|display=title,inline}}
*[http://www.alpsroads.net/roads/nj/nj_23/ New Jersey Roads: Route 23]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120716212914/http://www.njfreeways.com/NJNJ-23NPTBPictures.html Photos of NJ 23 in Wayne]
*[http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/refdata/traffic_orders/speed/rt23.shtm Speed Limits for Route 23]

{{good article}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:New Jersey Route 023}}
[[Category:State highways in New Jersey|023]]
[[Category:Transportation in Essex County, New Jersey|023]]
[[Category:Transportation in Morris County, New Jersey|023]]
[[Category:Transportation in Passaic County, New Jersey]]
[[Category:Transportation in Sussex County, New Jersey]]
[[Category:Limited-access roads in New Jersey]]